CLIPPERS NOTEBOOK: Bench will keep its prominent role

By the time the NBA playoffs roll around, teams usually have settled on a rotation of players that generally means eight players will go most nights.

But the Clippers are going to stick with the kitchen-sink approach after their reserves averaged 40.1 points per game this season, fourth-best in the league.

The Clippers went 40-17 when their reserves outscored their opposing bench players.

That doesn't necessarily mean Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will lose any playing time.

"I think we have a unique team," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We'll stay with it the way we've been playing, and if the players need a few more minutes - Chris and Blake's minutes have been up a bit lately - but overall because of the beginning part of our season our bench was doing such a good job, their minutes were down. Hopefully that's a benefit for us.

"I have confidence in all our guys. Grant Hill's helped us win games, Ronny Turiaf's helped us win games, Willie Green's helped us win games, so I have no hesitation putting them in if I feel they can help us."

By early in the second period on Saturday, the Clippers had 10 of their players make it onto the court. Green, Hill and Turiaf weren't among them.

"You also have to keep a rotation and you have to understand the flow of the rotation is important," Del Negro said. "I think we've gotten into a pretty good flow lately."

Checking that emotion

It was more of an issue at midseason, when the Clippers were struggling following their 17-game win streak, but Del Negro brought up the issue of his team restraining itself on the court without any prompting.

After all, he has to cover all bases for a team that has double-digit technical foul players like Griffin (14), Matt Barnes (10) and DeAndre Jordan (10).

Jamal Crawford added nine and Lamar Odom seven.

"We've addressed it a few times," Del Negro said. "I want us to play with emotion, I want us to play with a lot of energy. But you've got to play the next play. You can't assume anything, especially in playoff games.

"Play the next play, you can't worry about the refs, you've got to stay in the zone, you've got to stay in your mindset, you've got to know what the execution process is, and hopefully we'll control our emotions from that standpoint and be able to execute.

"If you get ahead of yourself a little bit and you're so amped up you're trying to do things faster than you need to - once we get our feet under us as the game gets started, we'll be fine."

The Grizzlies were the annoyed team in the first half Saturday, with starters Zach Randolph, Tony Allen and Mike Conley picking up two fouls each in the first quarter and Keyon Dooling being called for a technical early in the second quarter.

Conley picked up his third foul with 2:10 left in the second quarter on a jump shot by Chauncey Billups, which then bounced into the basket. Billups couldn't convert the three-point play, though.

On your feet

The NBA's no-flop rule, instituted before this season, has gotten a little tougher for the playoffs.

The first offense is a $5,000 fine, then goes up to $10,000, then $15,000, then $30,000 with subsequent violations. A player's fifth flop could result in a larger fine or even a suspension. There are no warnings.

"They're the rules. You'd better abide by them," Del Negro said. "That's come into play a lot this season. I think the guys are used to it a little bit, but now there's no warning or anything. The league takes a hard look at that stuff."